Whitney Matheson is a columnist for the USATODAY.com Life section. Her weekly Pop Candy column is a rundown of the joys and terrors of pop culture. (See the Pop Candy archive.)

Talk live to Whitney about today's culture scene, and get her take on what's hot and what's not. See previous transcripts here.

Comment from Whitney Matheson:
Hi again! As usual, I'm slouched in my chair, slurping a tall bottle of Poland Spring and watching my leather-clad next-door neighbor water his plants. Won't you send in a question or two? I've got an hour to spare... and we've had a lot of entertainment gossip in the past week!
Cary, North Carolina:
Whitney, Shania or the Dixie Chicks? And do you catch Reba on Friday's WB? Or, there just ain't no country blood in me and don't bother me no more?

Whitney Matheson:
I don't really get into Shania or the Chicks, although I did catch Ms. Twain on "Letterman" last night. It's weird how '80s pop is making its way into country...

I don't watch "Reba," either -- like I've said before, I try my hardest to escape my chilly apartment on Friday nights!Sumter, SC:
Hi Whitney, I need your take on the following: The thong, blue pepsi, and vanilla coke?

Whitney Matheson:
Pepsi and Coke I can understand, but why on earth do you need my take on the thong? Unless some sort of emergency arises, I advise you to avoid all three.Arlington, VA:
Who picks the songs for VH-1's lists anyway? Total airplay? "I Will Always Love You" and "My Heart Will Go On (and on, and on, and on...)" have to be THE most overplayed songs in history. Not to mention the most annoying.

Whitney Matheson:
Yeah, those lists are usually lame. But I kind of like the "100 Best '80s Albums of All Time," just posted on pitchforkmedia.com. You always have to consider the source with these things -- after all, VH1 IS responsible for "Rock the House" and that excruciating Tommy Lee "reality" special.Arlington, VA:
Holiday dinner preference: turkey or ham?

Whitney Matheson:
I'll only eat ham if it's a Smithfield ham... usually I go with the bird.Indy, IN:
Hey, Whitney. Loved today's column. Do you have any idea how old James Marsters is? My little sister swears he's 38--she's been addicted to Buffy all along; I'm just a past-three-seasons addict.

Whitney Matheson:
Spike's age is a mystery. Most sites say he's 30 (born in '72), but I honestly can't say for sure. Whatever it is, James isn't making any effort to let people know.Greenwich, CT:
Good morning Whit!
Palindromes = fun! I appears that I may be running out of material with Darlene on 24. Though her face looked like a plate of chipped beef last night, she didn't fade off the show like I had hoped. But what about next week? Nina is back! Things are going to get good. Anyhoo, my prescription for Paxil is low...must refill.

Whitney Matheson:
Ooh, I know -- each week the show gets better, although I really wish Kim would take a smart pill. That girl has less brainpower than Anna Nicole.Zowie, NJ:
Howard Stern's girlfriend insists that she finds his face & body sexy. Is that really possible? Or does she just see $ signs in his eyes?

Whitney Matheson:
Hey, there's someone for everyone. Rhea Perlman goes to bed every night thinking Danny DeVito is the bee's knees.Chattanooga, TN:
In taking a look at the 100 Greatest Love Songs from your Hip Clicks yesterday, I had three favorites - Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton, In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel, and At Last by Etta James. Besides Mandy, what are some of your favorites?

Whitney Matheson:
Hmmmm. U2's "All I Want is You." "Nobody 'Cept You" by Bob Dylan. Lulu's "To Sir With Love." And there's this song by The Connells called "Lay Me Down" that I used to put on every boyfriend's mix tape.South Euclid, OH:
What is the deal with Jay Z and Beyonce? Are they an item or just pretending for the purpose of sensational media?

Whitney Matheson:
He won't sizzay, but I think there's sizzomething going on.Atlanta, GA:
Okay..no one brought it up last week...Ralph gone..Tony killed him...whooohooo...what do you think? I thought it was a great move. I was hoping he would get wacked last season. I don't think the killing is over though...

Whitney Matheson:
It was one of the best moments of the show! I was getting used to Ralphie -- I felt for him when his idiot son was impaled by an arrow -- but his death adds another layer to the group. And I can't be the only one who now believes Paulie set fire to the stable... and what on earth is Carmela thinking?!
Too bad the season is almost over.Planet WADDUP!!:
Yo, my homegirl Whitney:
It's weds..and you know what that means?? NAKED SNOW TWISTER, BABY!!!
Right leg, RED

Whitney Matheson:
Count me out... I'd rather not catch a disease right before the holidays, thank you.Stafford,Va:
Whitney, have you seen 8 Mile yet?The lines at the Spotsy mall were huge!They should let the younger age groups in because that's where the money comes in.Do you think they should change the movie rating?

Whitney Matheson:
Oh, it's a message from my hometown! I'm really sorry, but I still haven't seen "8 Mile." I was sick last weekend, and just when I recovered, the spouse came down with the same thing. This weekend I'm going, I promise. I also want to see "Talk to Her"... too bad those sorts of movies never make their way to Spotsy Mall.arlington,tx:
what type of lip balm do you buy? i just looked in my purse and get this...i have 5 different brands!!!
1.Pucker Ups-Key Lime Pie
2.Oral Labs-Almond Swirl (my fav)
3.Old Navy-Blue Raspberry
4.ChapStick-Mint Flavored
and finally...
5.Bath and Body Works-Vanilla Mint...this one is even used all the way down, and i still have it!!!!!!!!!

Whitney Matheson:
I alternate between Carmex, Palmer's Cocoa Butter and good ol' Bonne Bell. Mmmm.Dallas, TX:
Did you see the clip of Michael "I love kids" Jackson dangling his child over a balcony? The man (?) is too strange for words....

Whitney Matheson:
Yeah, his actions just get more bizarre. I didn't think it was a great idea to drape a towel over the child's head, either...Boston, MA:
Helene or Brooke? Who do you think the Bachelor is going to choose?

Whitney Matheson:
I haven't a clue -- that show makes me sick to my stomach! I can't sit through an episode of that sexist debacle... for those who do watch, though, my friend Andy has posted some rumors at realityblurred.com.cerritos, ca:
Whitney
Is it en vogue to take back a cheating boyfriend or forgive or is that a complete faux pas.

Whitney Matheson:
I've never taken back a cheating boyfriend. Never regretted it, either.Jersey City, NJ:
Whit, since he won't be with us much longer, just wanted to say: Warren Zevon, you Excitable Boy, thank you for telling us about Werewolves in London and French Inhalers. Poor, poor pitiful us for not having you around longer. I hope you enjoy your sleep when you're dead(Zevon fans know what that means).

Whitney Matheson:
I still hope the diagnosis isn't true... there's a big feature on him in the current Rolling Stone, if you haven't seen it.Modesto, CA:
Whit,
I think the writing on "according to Jim" is great, and it is good (not great) on John Ritter's show (8 rules for dating my daughter).
Do you like those shows?

Whitney Matheson:
Nah, I'm glued to "Buffy" and "24" on Tuesdays. They're far more satisfying!Atlanta, GA:
What do you make of the J.Lo/Affleck engagement. Will this third marriage last?

Whitney Matheson:
You know what? I don't care. I don't think most of America cares, either -- Jen and Ben just have really great publicists. There's no way on earth this will last for the rest of their lives, and I don't know a soul who'd disagree. But for now, I wish them luck. And I also wish they would take a really looooong honeymoon.Buffalo, NY:
What are all the Party of Five and 90210 casts up to now?

Whitney Matheson:
Matthew Fox is on UPN's "Haunted." I think Lacey Chabert is doing cartoon voiceovers. Last I heard, Neve and John Cusack were still together. Jennie Garth has a WB show, and Kathleen Robertson was on the awful "girls club." As for the rest, they're probably working at a Kroger somewhere.Minneapolis, MN:
Any word on a Facts of Life reunion? I heard Tootie is holding out for more money. Also, are you a Martha Stewart Fan?

Whitney Matheson:
What, did you miss last year's "Facts of Life" reunion? Tootie was there, but Jo was a no-show...Houston, Texas:
What is in for winter men's fashion...black leather coat or rugged, brave-all-weather-windproof-water resistant-outdoorsy type jacket?

Whitney Matheson:
Buy yourself a good pair of snowpants. They never go out of style.austin, TX:
Any thoughts on the new Clooney film "Solaris". The previews look good, but it seems the movie hasn't been too hyped (not counting the barebutt issue) despite the big names attached to the film.

Whitney Matheson:
I say rent the original. Remakes are never worth the 10 bucks, even if they do star George Clooney.Boston, Mass.:
Eatin' some chowda' and enjoying your column today. Say, how do you feel about clipping toe nails in public? I am not a fan, but my significant other says "It's natural and you also don't have to throw the clippings away." Movie theaters, park benches, everywhere!

Whitney Matheson:
Toenails freak me out. If I ever saw one in a movie theater, I'd sprint to the parking lot.Bloomington, IN:
Hey Whit-
Love your column! What are your favorite movies? Any good ones of late? I don't get out much!

Whitney Matheson:
Go see "Igby Goes Down" and "Far From Heaven." Those are probably the best flicks playing right now.